DeSantis: Opponents wouldn’t spend this much against me ‘unless they saw me as a threat’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) argued Tuesday that his opponent's campaign spending figures suggest he views him as a “threat.”

“I've spent about $50 million on me leading up to this presidential campaign,” DeSantis said in a town hall with CNN on Tuesday. “That's more money than was spent on Joe Biden and Donald Trump combined. They wouldn't do that unless they saw me as a threat.”

“And one is a current president and one is a former president, and I think that should say something,” he continued. “They don't do that unless they think you're a threat.”

DeSantis claimed that former President Trump and President Biden see him as someone who will go to Washington “as a change-maker.”

It was the second time in recent days that DeSantis mentioned the roughly $50 million his opponent claims he spent on the attack. Speaking to an audience after the state caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday night, Mr. DeSantis suggested he was in for the long run, despite coming in second to Mr. Trump.

“They threw everything but the kitchen sink at us,” DeSantis told supporters Monday night, later adding, “We're ticketed out of Iowa.”

Andrew Romeo, communications director for the DeSantis campaign, also accused Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley of spending a total of $24 million on “false negative advertising” against the Florida governor.

An estimated $300 million worth of advertising for Republican presidential candidates was shown to voters this presidential nomination cycle. According to an NPR analysis. Most of that money comes from super PACs and outside groups.

PACs and other outside groups gave Haley the most money, about $62.8 million, followed by DeSantis, who received about $54.8 million from outside groups, NPR reported.

All eyes are now on New Hampshire, where the primary election will be held next Tuesday. Ms. Haley outperformed Ms. DeSantis in the Granite State, closing the gap with Mr. Trump to nearly 8 points, according to polling indices from The Hill and Decision Desk Headquarters.

According to Tuesday's poll, Mr. Trump has about 41.4% support in New Hampshire, while Ms. Haley has about 33.4% support. In the Granite State, DeSantis' approval rating has fallen to nearly 6%.